Matteo.
"You helped someone that was about to be food for those gangsters?" "What's worse , this person was a fucking girl?" Rocco said with that stupid grin on his face, if he wasn't so important to me I'd have wiped that grin of his fucking face. I gave him a piercing glare, and that seemed to shut him the Fuck up. I get why he's making such a fuss about me helping a girl, that's because I am a selfish bastard and I don't give a flying fuck about anyone especially women. I only meet girls when I need to, nothing passes that except they want to die, so he's pretty knocked up that I'd stop to a help someone and a girl at that. There was something so soft and innocent about her that made me want to protect her. *Cazzo* (Fuck) did I just say that? Argh this is why you shouldn't go helping little girls who probably ran away from home. One minute you're playing hero and the next minute you can't seem to get them out of your fucking head. Make no mistake, I am not the hero of anybodys story, if anytime I am the villain. I loosened my tie as I sat on the chair in my study. "Did you get what i asked you?" I asked Rocco with an edge in my voice to show him that I am serious. "Ahh yes! I did, but I found something strange." I frowned at the mention of something strange, I don't like things not going according to plan. "What do you mean by you saw something strange?" "Woah woah calm down Macho." Rocco raised his hands on mock surrender. He's the only one who can talk to me like that, others would have been six feet under the ground by now. "Don't test me Rocco." I said making sure my voice had a drop of venom to it. "Yes Boss." Rocco said in a serious tone now. "I couldn't find anything on Vincenzo's Daughter." My frown deepened. " What do you mean you can't find anything on her?" " See... That's the problem, I've searched but I can't seem to find any fucking thing on her." " Search harder Rocco." I stare at him, my words final. He heaved a heavy sigh before making his way out of the office. *Cazzo* (Fuck). He really did hide information about her huh, it's no secret that the famous Mafia Lord Vicenzo Cassano has a daughter. But it's funny how no one has ever seen her or heard any shit about her, it's as if she's existing but not really existing, I chuckled dryly... He's trying so hard to keep his daughter from the world. I picked up my phone to make a call, it rang twice before the other person picked. "yes boss." "I need you to find something on Vicenzo's Daughter for me Alex, I don't care how you fucking do it, make sure you find everything you can about this person." "Okay boss." I heaved a heavy sigh,a finding information on her shouldn't be so hard. I grit my teeth as the memories of that night came back rushing into my head. I'll take everything from you Vince, every fucking thing you own. Then you'll feel the pain I felt that night, I clench my hands almost drawing blood as the pain in my chest hits my with so much force. I picked up my phone again to call Rocco, I need him here for something else. "Yes Boss." "Come back Rocco." I hang up before he could even think to reply, my mind drift back to the girl in the dark alley, she's so oblivious. She stared at me like I was a whole damn snack, I am sure she must have felt like she was being discreet about it, but it was so obvious. "What did my eyes just witness?" I hear Rocco's annoying voice, how did he get back so fast? "Did I just see you smile?" "Well not Smiling exactly but your lips quirked up." *Stai Zitto Cazo Rocco* (Shut the Fuck up Rocco. His smile dropped, and his face switched to a serious look. Now that's more like it. He walked to the chair opposite me before sitting down. He looked like he had something to say, because his lips twitched and his eyebrows quirked up. "Spit it out Rocco." He sighed before starting to spit whatever he wanted to say. "What about the proposal Vicenzo sent?" I smirked at the memory of dear old Vince coming to my condo, and proposing to sell his daughter off to me in return for my loyalty and full support. I guess being a world famous assassin in the Mafia world does have it's perks, every don in the fucking mafia world wants you on their team. "What about it?" He raised his eyebrows in a questioning way. "Are you kidding me?" "Are you going to accept it or not?" I gave him a bored look, because this was the last thing I wanted to talk about right now. "What do you think Rocco?" Vicenzo is a bastard, he's willing to sell his own daughter for fucking alliance. If that ain't greed I dont know what is. "You need to accept it, this is him walking straight into our trap." My lips quirked up at the thought of him making my work a whole lot easier. "Send words to him that I accept his proposal." " Yes boss. " Rocco stood up to leave. " Accept his party invitation too Rocco." " Yes boss." What a sneaky bastard thinking he just attained a great asset. Vicenzo doesn't know that he just made the worst fucking mistake of his damn life. Selling his daughter to me in marriage? Tsk tsk. This marriage would be plainly transactional, no time for fucking love and stupid feelings. I'll make good use of Del Luca's little princess for them. I smirked at the what was to come. But what I didn't know was that the little mafia princess was going to turn my world around. **************** I walked out of the mansion into the garage. I sighed thinking about what car I should take to the damn party. I picked the black BMW, I am a sucker for cars... These babies give me a certain satisfaction. I looked down at my watch, where the Fuck is Rocco? I'd really kill him one day. I picked up my phone to call Rocco. " You guys should follow me closely Rocco." "Yes Boss." My phone blinged as I entered the car, I checked to see that it was from Alex. I opened the phone to see what he sent, and my eyes widened in shock, as i stared at the image staring right back at me.Isabella. I didn’t go near Matteo the next morning. I told myself it was for the best. I wasn’t here to fall in love, anyway. I was here to get stronger, get revenge, and forget everything else. I didn’t need him for that. I could do it all on my own.Even when everyone else went to check on him.Rocco, Enzo, even Luca who barely liked him.I stayed back. I stayed in the training ground, pouring all my anger into every shot and every throw. My fingers wrapped tight around the knife as I sent it flying, hitting the target dead center. My heart pounded in my chest. My mind was all over the place.The image of Laura brushing her hands over Matteo’s chest played again in my head, again and again, like a sick loop. And then the way he told me to leave... like I didn’t matter.Fine.If he wanted a war, I’d give him one.I picked up another knife and threw it with so much force my arm stung. I barely noticed Luca until he ducked behind me, hands up."Easy, mafia queen," he joked. "Trying
Matteo.Pain greeted me before my eyes even opened. A sharp, throbbing ache pulsed through my ribs, each breath a reminder of the bullet that had torn through me. I blinked against the dim light filtering into the room, the ceiling above unfamiliar yet comforting in its stillness.Turning my head slightly, I spotted her. Isabella. Curled up on the couch, her hair a tangled halo around her face, lips parted in sleep. She looked peaceful, vulnerable even. The sight stirred something deep within me, something I wasn't ready to name.Memories of the mission flooded back—the chaos, the gunfire, the searing pain. And then, her face. Tear-streaked, eyes wide with fear as she begged me not to close mine. That image clung to me, more potent than any painkiller.I recalled the earlier scene with Luca. Seeing her on his back had ignited a fury I hadn't expected. A possessive, irrational rage that had no place in my world. She was playing a game, trying to provoke me. And damn it, it worked
Isabella.For a moment, I thought I saw it. That flicker of something behind Matteo’s eyes—jealousy. The way his gaze locked onto me riding on Luca’s back. It was quick, gone before I could catch it properly. Maybe I imagined it.But then, just like that, he looked away. No words. No reaction. He turned to Laura, said something to her, and walked her straight out of the estate like nothing happened.The way my stomach twisted shouldn’t have surprised me anymore. But it did.I climbed off Luca’s back, my smile gone. I hated how stupid I felt. How I had expected something, anything. A glare. A possessive word. A sign that he cared.But there was nothing.“Stupid,” I muttered under my breath. “You’re so stupid, Isabella.”“Whoa,” Enzo’s voice broke through the air. He was walking toward us with Alexander, both of them looking amused and confused.“Luca,” Alexander said, raising a brow, “do you have a death wish? Carrying Matteo’s wife like that?”I rolled my eyes. “Relax. Matteo doesn
Isabella. Dr. Laura showed up at the villa again today. I had barely stepped into the hallway when I heard her heels clicking against the marble floor, that sharp, annoying sound like she was announcing her arrival to the entire world. Anna was doing better. Her face looked healthier this morning, and she even managed a smile. But that didn't make me feel any better about Laura being here again. She was all over the place—smiling at Rocco, chatting with Hugo, pretending not to notice me. But I could see her eyes scanning for Matteo. As always. I told myself it didn’t matter. That Anna needed a doctor. That Laura was here for that, nothing else. Still, the pit in my stomach burned. Enzo met me out at the training grounds. We started with light sparring. My arms ached from the last session, but I welcomed the burn. It distracted me. Until I saw them. Matteo and Laura were standing by the balcony, talking. Laura laughed and touched his arm, leaning in like
Isabella. I opened the door gently. The room was warm and quiet. Light slipped through the curtains and fell across the bed. Anna sat up against a pillow, her long hair falling over her shoulder. Her eyes were tired but clear. She looked at me and gave a weak smile. I smiled back and walked in slowly. “Hey… how are you feeling?” She nodded. “Better. Thank you.” Her voice was soft. I moved closer and pulled the chair beside the bed. I sat down and took a breath. “Do you remember what happened? How you ended up there?” She looked down at her hands. “Yes,” she whispered. “I remember.” I waited quietly. She started speaking, her voice shaky at first. “My name is Anna,” she said. “I have a younger brother. His name is Hugo.” My breath caught for a second. Hugo. “We lived with our parents. Just a normal life. Until they came.” She paused, eyes getting watery. “Rossi’s men.” I could feel my heart squeezing in my chest. I didn’t speak. I just listened. “They wanted me
Isabella. MatteoLayla's hand slides around my arm again. She laughs softly at something Rocco says, but I’m not even listening. I’m watching Isabella.She’s standing near the hallway, her arms crossed. Her face is calm, too calm. But I know her now. Her eyes are sharp, jaw tight. She’s pissed.And I like it.Layla squeezes my arm tighter, like she wants to glue herself to me. Her fingers are too familiar. Too fake.Isabella’s eyes narrow for a second, then she turns and walks away.Something sharp pulls in my chest.Layla leans closer. “You seem tense. I could—”“Stop,” I say, my voice low.She blinks. “Sorry. I thought—”“Come with me,” I say, walking ahead without looking back.She follows quickly, heels clicking behind me.I take her to the study. As soon as we step in, I shut the door behind us. I turn around.“That’s enough,” I say.She tilts her head. “What do you mean?”“Leave.”“I can help you relax—”“I said leave, Layla.”She opens her mouth, but I step closer. My jaw is t